Ghost Blows Out the Light
Encyclopedia
Ghost Blows Out the Light (Chinese
: 鬼吹灯; Pinyin
: Guǐ Chuī Dēng), also referred to as Candle in the Tomb, is a fantasy novel written by Zhang Muye (天下霸唱) about two grave robbers seeking hidden treasure
, and first published online
in March 2006. It quickly became the bestselling online novel in China
with an estimated readership of six million, and when published in print form in October the same year, went on to sell over 500,000 copies, although the book had to be rewritten to remove references to the supernatural before it could be released.
Set in the 1980s, the novel follows former soldier
Hu Bayi and his partner as they raid tombs in search of valuables. The two team up with an American archaeologist after they fall victim to a curse
, and to release themselves from it they must seek clues found among ancient mythical sites in China and Tibet
.
The title is derived from an old Chinese saying, credited by the author to genuine grave robbers: "A human lights the candle and the ghosts blow it out." According to Muye, grave robbers would place a candle
in the south-east corner of a tomb
after entering, in an attempt to make contact with the dead. If the candle was extinguished it was a sign that the spirits
within opposed the intrusion, and the robbers would be obliged to depart, leaving everything intact and undisturbed.
In July 2007, it was reported that Hollywood film studio New Line Cinema
was planning a movie adaptation of the novel. It was stated that one of the two lead actors was to be Qian Zhijun
, the teenager whose face was behind the Xiao Pang internet phenomenon, while other roles would be played by established Hong Kong
movie star
s. There has already been a bestselling online game
released based on the book, while a play
is also mooted.
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 鬼吹灯; Pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Guǐ Chuī Dēng), also referred to as Candle in the Tomb, is a fantasy novel written by Zhang Muye (天下霸唱) about two grave robbers seeking hidden treasure
Treasure
Treasure is a concentration of riches, often one which is considered lost or forgotten until being rediscovered...
, and first published online
ONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
in March 2006. It quickly became the bestselling online novel in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
with an estimated readership of six million, and when published in print form in October the same year, went on to sell over 500,000 copies, although the book had to be rewritten to remove references to the supernatural before it could be released.
Set in the 1980s, the novel follows former soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
Hu Bayi and his partner as they raid tombs in search of valuables. The two team up with an American archaeologist after they fall victim to a curse
Curse
A curse is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to some other entity—one or more persons, a place, or an object...
, and to release themselves from it they must seek clues found among ancient mythical sites in China and Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
.
The title is derived from an old Chinese saying, credited by the author to genuine grave robbers: "A human lights the candle and the ghosts blow it out." According to Muye, grave robbers would place a candle
Candle
A candle is a solid block or cylinder of wax with an embedded wick, which is lit to provide light, and sometimes heat.Today, most candles are made from paraffin. Candles can also be made from beeswax, soy, other plant waxes, and tallow...
in the south-east corner of a tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
after entering, in an attempt to make contact with the dead. If the candle was extinguished it was a sign that the spirits
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
within opposed the intrusion, and the robbers would be obliged to depart, leaving everything intact and undisturbed.
In July 2007, it was reported that Hollywood film studio New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
was planning a movie adaptation of the novel. It was stated that one of the two lead actors was to be Qian Zhijun
Qian Zhijun
Qian Zhijun is a Chinese actor and entertainer. His fame began during the "Little Fatty" internet meme, and since then he has appeared in films and hosted a festival for people with alternative body types....
, the teenager whose face was behind the Xiao Pang internet phenomenon, while other roles would be played by established Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
movie star
Movie star
A movie star is a celebrity who is well-known, or famous, for his or her starring, or leading, roles in motion pictures. The term may also apply to an actor or actress who is recognized as a marketable commodity and whose name is used to promote a movie in trailers and posters...
s. There has already been a bestselling online game
Online game
An online game is a game played over some form of computer network. This almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology, but games have always used whatever technology was current: modems before the Internet, and hard wired terminals before modems...
released based on the book, while a play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
is also mooted.
External links
- Official site of the franchise
- Ghost Blows Out the Light, entry at Baidu Baike